Start Your Fitness Journey For A Long And Healthy Life

It’s never too late to begin your fitness and health journey; any positive changes will be an improvement and will have a beneficial impact on how you feel physically and mentally. Therefore, if you feel that you’re stuck in a lifestyle rut, and can’t seem to kick your unhealthy habits; it might be time to consider making changes and doing new things that will improve your wellbeing. You don’t have to give up all of your favorite things and live on lettuce leaves from now on; it’s about enriching your lifestyle, not limiting yourself. The healthier you feel, the more motivated you’ll be to keep up the good work and continue on your healthy path. The following are some tips and ideas for those who feel ready to make changes and start the positive momentum going.

Nourish Your Body

It’s probably no surprise to you that a donut for breakfast, fries for lunch, and nachos for dinner (coupled with candy for snacks) aren’t going to help you towards a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Treats taste so good; however, you need to start looking at them as treats and not sustenance. For you to feel motivated each day; you’ll need to provide your body with the right fuel, that won’t leave you hungry and craving sugary delights. Therefore, it’s time to start thinking about fresh, unprocessed, natural foods that will enrich your diet and nourish your body.

It’s not all about salads without dressing; however, it’s worth adding as many fresh vegetables to each of your meals as possible. Veg will fill you up and provide you with essential fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that will help to put a spring in your step; not to mention, the positive effects they’ll have on your hair, skin, and general appearance. For some ideas on how to incorporate an array of vegetables into your diet plan; start your journey at www.eatingwell.com/article/ways-to-eat-more-vegetables/ and begin writing a new grocery list.

Sugar cravings can often be satiated by fresh fruit; so whip up a smoothie before you leave for work, or grab a banana on your coffee break instead of reaching for chocolate. Fruit sugars will be released a lot slower into your system, and you’ll reap the benefits of the fiber and vitamins they’ll give you. An apple is also cheaper than your average candy bar, so you might even save yourself some cash. Again, it’s certainly not about starving yourself or going hungry; it’s about filling yourself up with the right food and finding recipes that will keep you fuller for longer, so you don’t feel the need to snack throughout the day. Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are the perfect alternative for those who always need to nibble in the afternoon when they’re sat at their desk, so pop some in a container and take them with you to the office.

As previously discussed; your treats don’t have to become a thing of the past (you’ll miss them); however, by limiting the amount you consume, the less you’ll feel the need to reach for a cookie with your coffee, and you’ll enjoy the, more on special occasions. There are also healthier alternatives to your favorite sweet foods; if you’re a chocolate addict, you could try switching to dark chocolate, or an alternative with a higher cocoa percentage. Dark chocolate contains minerals, fiber, and antioxidants; it’s worth swapping your regular candy bars for.

Now that you’ve fueled your body, you should be feeling motivated and ready to start moving it. Exercise is the best way to get your circulation moving around your body, shift excess weight, and make you feel better both physically and mentally. Joining a gym or an exercise class is the perfect way to meet people on a similar journey to you, and there’s nothing like a bit of comradery to keep your momentum up. There are an array of gyms, and they’ll have the experts that can help you to reach your fitness goals; you can get started at www.clubfitness.us/7-day-pass to begin making positive changes to your routine. Don’t let your first few exercise experiences put you off; it will be a shock to your system, but once you get in the swing, fitness can be a healthy craving, and there’ll be no looking back.

Find what works for you; it’s worth trying a few different fitness routines, or sports before you decide how to move forward. Perhaps a team sport is what you need to push yourself, and the social aspect will be something you’ll enjoy. Or, maybe your time to exercise, when you visit the gym, go swimming, or run around the park, is your time to clear your head and relieve the stresses of your day. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll begin to see and feel the benefits as your body changes each week. Exercise releases endorphins, which are known as the “happy hormones,” so you’ll have a smile on your face more often. You’ll also sleep a lot better after a workout, so you’ll wake up each morning excited to take on the challenges of the day.

As mentioned beforehand; a decent night of sleep will improve your ability to carry out the day ahead. Rest and sleep also help to fight stress, fatigue, and depression, making them a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Your new diet and exercise regime will contribute towards you sleeping well; however, there are some other techniques you can use to unwind, should you miss a couple of workouts or have had a particularly stressful week.

Meditation is a great way to release stress from your mind and energize yourself ahead of a busy day; so try some simple techniques that you can carry out in your bedroom at home. Sports massages, or a dip in the jacuzzi at the gym, are the perfect way to pummel the tension away from your muscles and will help to alleviate the stresses and strains of your busy life. Remember; you’re making each of these changes to lead a healthier life, so look at them in a positive way,and you’ll be able to stay motivated to continue on your fitness journey.

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Conor Heffernan

Conor is currently researching Ireland's physical culture movement as a PhD student at University College Dublin. When not in the library or the gym, he likes to try his hand at writing....with mixed results.